In a world where depression and anxiety are on the rise, Islam offers a comprehensive and timeless guide to achieving genuine happiness. On The Deen Show, Dr. Sheikh Waleed Basyouni, Vice President of AlMaghrib Institute, explained that one of the primary goals of Islamic law (Shariah) is to make people happy, both in this worldly life and in the Hereafter. True happiness is not something Muslims must wait for until Paradise; it begins right here, right now, through faith and righteous action.
Happiness Is a Goal of the Shariah
Allah sent the Quran, the prophets, and all of Islamic teaching with the explicit aim of guiding humanity toward happiness. The Quran promises that whoever believes and does righteous deeds, whether male or female, will be granted a good and happy life in this world and the greatest reward in the Hereafter. This means that the reward for submitting to Allah is twofold: inner peace and contentment today, and eternal bliss in Paradise tomorrow.
“Those who believe in Me and offer good deeds, I will let them live a good, happy life in this worldly life, then I will reward them in the Hereafter with the greatest reward, which is Paradise.”
Stop Dwelling on the Past and Worrying About the Future
Sheikh Waleed offered practical wisdom that resonates with anyone struggling with sadness: worrying excessively about the future will never empty tomorrow of its sorrow, it will only empty today of its strength. Islam teaches Muslims to focus on the present moment, to do good today, and to trust that the future is in the hands of Allah. Staying busy with meaningful work, using the talents Allah has given you, and smiling at others are all forms of charity that generate happiness for yourself and those around you.
“Worrying so much about the future will never empty the future from its sorrow. It will only empty your today from its strength. As a Muslim, our main focus is on what I can do today.”
- The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) said that smiling is a form of charity, and it brings happiness to both the giver and the receiver
- Allah created human beings with a complex mix of emotions, and experiencing sadness is natural, but Islam provides the tools to overcome it
- The talents and gifts Allah has given each person are meant to be used in service of good, and doing so generates lasting fulfillment
- Following the guidelines Allah has laid out in the Quran and Sunnah is a guaranteed path to happiness in both this life and the next
